Veteran actor Richard "Rick" Hurst, best known for his role as Deputy Cletus Hogg in 'The Dukes of Hazzard', has passed away aged 79. Rick's previous spouse, Candace Kaniecki, disclosed to TMZ that Rick died suddenly in Los Angeles on Thursday, June 26. It is currently unclear what caused Rick's death but the news of his passing was also confirmed on the Facebook page of Cooter's in Luray, VA, a museum and store dedicated to The Dukes of Hazzard which is run by Ben Jones, also known as Cooter Davenport from the cherished CBS series, alongside his wife, Alma Viator. Read more Jessie J's sad cancer update as she's forced to clarify 'misunderstood' statement Cooter's tribute to Rick featured an emotional photo with Deputy Hogg at the centre – the picture depicted Rick in sepia tones surrounded by white doves against a black background, with his full name, the respectful 'RIP', and the dates January 1, 1946, to June 26, 2025. They paired the image with a poignant message: "Gone from our sight but never from our hearts. "Your love and memories will forever remain.", as reported by Mirror US. Their heartrending Facebook post acknowledged their deep grief, concluding: "Our hearts are broken! ! You will be missed! ! ! !". As recently as last month, Rick was seen in good spirits at Ben's retirement bash hosted at Cooter's, and he had been lined up for a Meet and Greet at Cooter's spot in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, planned for July 3-7. Following the sad news of Rick's passing, his co-star from The Dukes of Hazzard, John Schneider, who played Bo Duke, one of the iconic "Duke boys," shared a touching tribute. John posted a funeral tribute poster photo of Rick on Facebook and expressed: "I just this moment heard about the passing of dear Rick Hurst, a.k.a. Cletus Hogg. "You were remarkable force for humanity, sanity and comedy my friend. "Heaven is a safer and more organised place with you in it. "We'll keep the race going and people laughing until we meet again! Love you. John." Rick was most recognised for his portrayal of Deputy Cletus Hogg, Boss Hogg's (Sorrell Brooke) cousin, in The Dukes of Hazzards. He played the character from 1980 to 1983 and returned to the role in the films The Dukes of Hazzard: Reunion! (1997) and The Dukes of Hazzard: Hazzard in Hollywood (2000), after the series ended in 1985. Throughout his acting career, Rick featured in a host of TV shows and movies including The Partridge Family, MASH*, The Guardian, The Karate Kid Part III, and Steel Magnolias. His final acting work was in a TV short titled Be My Guest in 2016. Rick leaves behind his sons, actors Ryan Hurst and Collin Hurst. Ryan's mother is Rick's first wife Candace, while he had Collin with Shelly Weir, to whom he was married.